Lamp.



W. B. MEEKER.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. B. MEEKER.

LAMP

APPLICATION FILED APR.28.1913.

Patented Dec. "3l

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

T OTA] WTLLTAM B. MJEEIKJER, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOMATICLAME i CONTROL COMPANY, OIF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

LAMP.

LTOQLTSO.

Application led April 28, 1913.

To all lwhom t may concern Be it known that l, WILLIAM B. Mnnnnn,citizen ofy the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certaln new and usefulimprovements in Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle lamps and particularly to dirigiblelamps in which the direction of the shaft of light of the lamp may bevaried with each deviation of the Vehicle from a straight path.

The invention is applicable to vehicles o any type such as horse drawnwagons or carriages, traction cars, locomotives, boats, vessels orbicycles, but is particularly adapted for use upon automobiles.

rThe object of the invention is to simplify the structure as well as themeans and mode of operation of such devices, whereby they will not onlybe cheapened in construction, but will be more elicient in use, positiveand automaticin their action and unlikely to get out of repair. Afurther object of the invention is to provide means for varying thedirection of the shaft of light without varying the relative position ofthe lamp itself in relation with the vehicle.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention consists of thefeatures of construction, the parts and combinations thereof and themode of operation or their equivalents, as hereinafter described and setforth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the forwardportion of an automobile to which a pair oflamps, forming the subjectmatter hereof, together with their controlling devices have beenapplied. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one of the lamps. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view of the lamp and control device. Fig. 4 is asectional/plan view of the lamp. Figs. 5 and 6 are a vertical sectionalview and a sectional plan view respectively of a modification of theconstruction shown in Figs. 3 and t. Figs.l 7 and 8 are corre ondingviews of a further modification... Fig. 9 is a sectional Speciication ofLetters Patent.

Patented Dec. 2i, i915. Serial No. 764,072. vplan view of a lamp havingthree positions of operative adjustment.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

rThe lamp forming the Subj ect matter hereof differs from dirigiblelamps as usually constructed. rllhe lamp as herein described is securedin fixed position in relation with the vehicle upon which it is carriedand is not variable from such fixed position as is. usual in dirigiblelamp construction.

The lamp herein described is provided with two or more angularlyarranged faces or light openings,.through any one of which the shaft oflight may be directed by a variable controlling element mounted withinthe lamp. either a movable reflector or a blind or shut- Thiscontrolling element may be ter, controlled in unison with the deviationof the vehicle from a straight path by any of the controlling mechanismcommonly employed for varying adjustable lamps in unison with themovementrof the vehicles. lit is obvious that the control mechanism maybe employed to adjust the variable element of either lamp independent ofthe vehicle in a corresponding direction or the element of both lampsmay be adjusted in unison.

lin the drawings there has been shown 'a simple and eflicientmethod ofindependently adjusting the variable elements of the lamps accordingtothe direction of the deviation of the vehicle from its straight path.The controlling mechanism disclosed in the drawings is similar to thatshown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 714,657, andforms no part of the present invention. llt is obvious, however, thatany other suitable controlling mechanism may 'be employed in lieu ofthat herein shown.

Referring to the drawings, l is a forward portion or hood of anautomobile of which 2 is the front axle. The forward wheels 3 of thevehicle are connected with the axle 2 l shown in the drawings. Thesteering bar 4 each terminating in a horizontally disposed disk 10. Journaled in the disk 10 is a vertical shaft 11, to which is secured asecond disk 12. The disk 12 rests upon the disk 10 and forms a thrustbearing for the shaft 11. The disks 10 and 12 are recessed and in saidrecess is located a helical retracting spring 13, adapted to return theshaft 11 and disk 12 to their normal position When oscillated therefrom.A pin or stop 14, carried by the disk 12, engages a corresponding stop,carried by the stationary disk 10 to limit such return movement of theshaft and disk 12 under the influence of the spring 13. At its lowerextremity the shaft 11 carries an additional disk 15 also securedthereto and lmoving in unison with the shaft. Loosely journaled upon theshaft 11 intermediate the stationary disk 10 and the disk 15 carried bythe shaft, is a disk 16 provided with two radially disposed arms 17 and18. The disk 16 carries a stop 19 adapted to engage with a correspondingstop carried by the disk 15.

The construction is suoli that when the disk 16 is rotated upon theshaft 11l in one direction, its stop 19 will engage the correspondingstop of the disk 15 and Will rotate the disk 15 and the shaft 11 withwhich it is connected in unison with the movement of the disk 16 againstthe tension of the reti-acting spring 13. When the free disk 15 isoscillated in the opposite direction it will move independent of thedisk A'15' and the shaft 11 and the latter will not be affected thereby.The disk 16 and the disk 15 at the opposite sides off the vehicle areoppositely connected, that is their interengaging stops are oppositelyarranged so that when the disks 16 are oscillated in one direction thestop 19 of one of said disks will engage the stop of the correspondingdisk 15, while the other disk 16 will rotate free'and when oscillatedinthe opposite direction the opposite disks- 15 and 16 will beinterengaged. ln order thatthe disks 16 may be oscillated in unison, theradial arms 17 of said disks at opposite sides of the machine areconnected by a transverse connecting rod 20.

To oscillate the disks 16 with each deviation of the vehicle from astraight path, and thereby oscillate the vertical shaft 11 correspondingto the direction in which the vehicle is turned, there is provided anactuating bar 21 extending parallel with the steering bar 4 andconnected at its forward end to the radial arm 18 of one of the freedisks 16. The steering bar 4 carries a laterally extending arm 22,having a perforated head 23 through which the actuating bar 31 projects.Located about the actuating bar 21 on each side of the head 23 is ahelical compensating spring 24. The reciprocatorymovement of thesteering bar 4, necessary to turn the vehicle from its straight pathwill be transmitted through the arm22 and the springs 24 to theactuating bar 21, causing a corresponding reciprocatory movement of theactuating bar. This movement of the bar 21 will cause a correspondingoscillatory movement of the disks 16.

If the vehicle is being turned to the right,

' the actuating bar 21 will be reciprocated in' a forward direction,thereby oscillating the disks 16 in one direction. If the vehicle isturned to the left the reciprocatory movement of the actuating bar 21will be rearward, turning the disk 16 in an opposite direction. Thedirection of rotation of the disks will depend upon whether the arm 18extends inward or outward from the disk. In the construction shown inFigs. 5 to 8 the disk should oscillate in a direction corresponding Withthe direction of movement of the vehicle from a straight path. In theconstruction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the disks are oscillated in adirection opposite to the movement of the vehicle.

As before stated the disks 16 are connected with the disks 15 inopposite relation, Whereby only one of the shafts 11 will be oscillatedWith the movement of the disks 16 in either direction. The initialmovement of disks 16 and the corresponding shaft 11 moved thereby to thelimit of their stroke, While any further movement of the, guiding wheels3 and the steering bar 4 is compensated for by the compression of thespring 24.`

The construction thus far described is identical with the constructionset forth in the aforementioned copending application, and forms no partof the present invention, but is claimed in said separate application.It has been herein set forth in detail that the independent operation ofthe light controlling element hereinafter mentioned may be more fullyunderstood. It is to be understood, however, that the particularmechanism before described is not essential to the successful operationof the lamp hereinafter described, but that other control mechanism maybe substituted therefor.

The lamp forming the subject matter hereof comprises a housing orchamber 25, having two or more angularly arranged illuminating faces oropenings 26 and 27. These illuminating faces or openings are ith ideamapreferably provided with the usual transparent closures of glass orother material. lfiocatedwithin the chamber or housing 25 at a pointcommon to both the illuminating faces or openings 26 and 27 is a burner,electric bulb or any other illuminating device 28.

The lamp is secured immovably upon the vehicle by any suitable means.The usual supporting fork may be employed but in the drawing the lamphas been shown as attached to an upward projecting arm 29, carried bythe bracket 9 and further supported by a lateral arm 30, extending fromthe upward arm 29 and carrying a hub or sleeve 3l, through which therevoluble shaft 11 projects. l,

`When securing the lamps to the vehicle, they are arranged in suchrelation therewith, that the illuminating face 26 of each lamp will bedirected forward in a line coincident with the path of travel, while theadjacent illuminating'Y faces 27 will be directed outward at aninclination to the lineof travel, one of such faces being directed tothe right and the other to the left, as shown in Fig. l.

To control the shaft of light from the illuminating device 28, wherebyit may be directed at will through either of the illuininating faces 26or 27 various means may be employed such as a variable shutter adaptedto close one or the other of the illuminating faces 26 or 27, as shownin Figs. 3 and 4, or a reflector may be used to direct the shaft oflight only through the selected illuminating face or opening as shown inFigs. 5 and 6or a combination of the variable shutter and variablereflector may be employed, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, there is secured in fixed position with thehousing 25, a reflector 32 arranged in such relation with the burner orilluminating device 28 that it will direct the rays of light from suchburner or illuminating device simultaneously through both theilluminating faces or openings 26 and 27. Carried upon the upperextremity of the shaft l1 and within the housing or chamber 25 is aradial arm 33 upon which is carried a vertical blind or shutter 34adapted to be mo'ved alternately into registry with the illuminatingfaces or openings 26 and 27, by the oscillation of the shaft 11. Thuswhen the blind is in registry with the illuminating face or opening 27,Vas shown in Fig. 4, the light will be directed only through theilluminating face 26 and therefore in line with the straight path oftravel of the vehicle. However, if the vehicle should'be turned to theleft, the blind 34 as shown in Fig. 4 would be oscillated to thepositionshown by dotted lines, where it would close the illuminating face oropening'26 and the rays of light would be directed at an inclination tothe straight path of travel of the vehicle, in the j direction to whichthe vehicle was being device 2S and the reflector 32 remain stationaryor fixed in their relation with the vehicle, while only the blind 34moves in unison with the deviation of the vehicle from a straight path,causing the direction of the shaft device to be varied in unison withthe deviati-ons of the vehicle.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6 the construction of the lamp and its relationwith the vehicle is identical with that before described. However inthis construction, in lieu of the variable blind or shutter 34, areflector 35 is carried upon the upper end of the shaft ll and isoperated in unison therewith, with each oscillatory movement of theshaft. lt is to be understood that the reflector 35 moves in a pathconcentric with the burner or illuminating device 28. ln Fig. 6 thereflector 35 has been shown in a position adapted to direct the rays oflight straight forward through the illuminating face 26. l"When in thisposition the reflector concentrates the rays of light through theilluminating face 26 and but little light is permitted to pass throughthe angularly disposed face 27. However upon a deviation of the vehicleto the left, which as before mentioned will cause an oscillatorymovementV of the shaft 11, the reector 35 will be oscillated about theburner or illuminating device 28, to a position shown by dotted lines inFig. 6, in which position the shaft of light will be directed throughthe illuminating face 27 to the exclusion of the face 26. While the mostintense shaft of light will be directed b v the reflector 35 through theilluminating face or opening with which the reflector is in registry, itis obvious that there will be some diffusion of light through theangular illuminating face or opening. Under ordinary circumstances suchdiffusion of light through the angular face is not objectionable.However to overcome this diffusion of light laterally at the time thatthe main shaft is directed forward, there is provided as shown in F igs.7 and 8 a construction embodying both the variable blind and thevariable reflector, operating in unison.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, the construction of the lamp and therelation of its several parts one with the other, and with the vehicleis the same as before described. The reflector 36 of this constructioncorresponds with the reflector 35 of the Aconstruction shown in Figs. 5.and 6. This reflector 36 is mounted at the rear end of a sleeve 37brought into registry with either the illuminating face 26 or the face27 by the oscillaA tory movement of the shaft 11. Immediately above theshaft 11, the sleeve 37 is provided with an opening 38, through `whichthe burner or illuminating device 28 projects.

In Fig. 8 the sleeve 37 and the reflector 36 are shown in a positionadapted to direct the shaft of light through the illuminating face oropening 26 and in line with the straight path of travel of the vehicle.However uponthe oscillatory movement of the shaft 1l due to thedeviation of the vehicle from such straight path the sleeve 37 and thereflector 36 are oscillated through a path concentric with the burner orilluminating device 28 to the position indicated by dotted lines in saidFig. 8, whereupon the shaft of light will be directed through theangular face 27 to the exclusion of the face 26. In this constructionthe sleeve 37 serves as a blind or shutter to exclude the unregisteredface or opening and to concentrate the shaft of light through the faceor opening with which the reflector 36 is in registry. i

In Fig. 9 is'shown a construction embodying a multiplicity ofilluminating` faces, through any of which the shaft of light may bedirected by the adjustment of the reflector 36 -as before described. Itis to be understood that the reflector has different positions ofadjustment corresponding to the different faces.

From the above description it Will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device ofthe character described, possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportion, detailconstruction or arrange- `ment of parts, Without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply With the statute, the invention has beendescribed in ,language more or less specific as to certain structuralfeatures it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to anyspecific details, but that the means and construction herein describedcomprise but one mode of putting the invention into eect, and theinvention is therefore claimed broadly and in any of its possible formsor modifications Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,l I claim,

1. A lamp comprising a housing, an illuminating element fixed inrelation with the housing and a light control element movable in apath-concentric with the illuminating element to different radialpositions in relation therewith tovvary the direction of the rays oflight from said illuminating element.

2.*The combination with a dirigible vehicle of a lamp immovably fixed inits relafaces for said lamp arranged angularly one with the other, andmeans for directing the shaft of light from the lamp through any one ofthe faces and excluding the light from the remaining face, suchdirecting means being variable in unison With the deviations of thevehicle from a straight path.

3. The combination With a fixed lamp having a plurality of illuminatingfaces and a stationary source of illumination common to all the faces,of a variable element capable of adjustment independent of the lamp fordirecting the shaft of light through one of the illuminating faces tothe exclusion of the remaining faces.

4. A lamp comprising a housing having a plurality of illuminating faces,a source of illumination therein, a variable control element movableinto and out of registry with the different illuminating faces to causethe light from said source of illumination to be transmitted throughdifferent illuminating faces.

5. The combination with a fixed lamp having a plurality of illuminatingfaces, a fixed source of illumination common to all the faces, of avariable reflector adapted to be moved in a path concentric with thesource of illumination into registry with any one of the illuminatingfaces, whereby the shaft of light may be directed through any one of theseveral illuminating faces.

6. The combination with a fixed lamp having a plurality of illuminatingfaces of a variable reflector adapted to be moved into registry with anyone of the illuminating faces, whereby the shaft of light may bedirected through any one of the several illuminating faces, and a blindmoving in unison with the reflector adapted to close the escape oflight.

7. A lamp housing, an illuminating element within the housing, and acontrol element movable to different positions concentric with theilluminating element to cause the light from said element to be cast indifferent radial directions in relation with the said illuminatingelement.

8. The combination with a dirigible vehicle of a lamp housing fixed inits relation therewith, an illuminating element fixed in relation withthe housing, and a control element movable in a path concentric with theilluminating element, adapted by its adjustment to direct the shaft oflight in various radial directions from the fixed lamp, and means foradjusting the control element in unison with the deviations of thevehicle from a straight path.

9. In a lamp a fixed housing, an illuminating member fixed in itsrelation with the housing, a pivotally mounted sleeve within thehousing, within which the illuminating mei-viver pinjec'fs and ai.'feezor mounted in im@ @mi of said 31eme, 'the @they and said siem@being umbsitiucicfd. to iight, said sieeve being iidjusfazibie '530di'emiii ifaciiaii psiiions Y pendent @if ih@ housing mimi illuminating:.imiibeiz MR Th@ combinailimi with a diiigiiii@ feiiiis a imi-ipsompiiiiiig a husiiig fimd h i's miagimi wih 53h@ ifafiicie9 niv'miiypointed Sliema Wifiiiii ih@ hmis 1 mi cmi-imi by ih@ slew/e, aniiiuiiiizimiiig wem; xedi 'iv'eizibioii 'Wih 53h43. iimisiiig ojecisiiigWiihiii iii@ sieeve, mid mieziiis sting iii@ siev@ it@ diieiieii; mdizipsi'simis in unison-fWith'i'deviaiinn @i iii@ Wikide from ai straightpath,

"1 The combiiimiom with a, dii'igibi@ 'w3- ai izimp comprising .ahousing iid 'its ieiaiimi-With 1th@ Vieiiiei? and im iiiil Timingelement Fixed im iis reiazioii Wih iii@ housing, a variable commi @iemanmmfiai iii an @imma-te path concenzii@ Wiih ish@ laminating @lemmiadapted it@ fc'aisi; the di inaction of ich@ shaft iight in di'ei-@niifiidiii diiections indepnleni, oi? any minimi Waimea@ the iam@ midmeans lim@ MW was ing @he Qontrol eminent in unison with the daviafins@if ih@ Vehicle inm a :simigh: pmb,

i2t The oombiiiaion with a dirigibi@ Ve hid@ of 25W@ sources o'iiiumilmjion ixed in hir reisiizimi mi@ with iifaher ami Wiiii iii@which? ai Condomi dammi; for the iigiii: from @mii swims @ifiiiumiiiiiioii nomiaiiy iimiing their shafts iight' in jparaiii lines?mid Gummi deinem@ being aijusinabi@ iiiepaiiiiii on? iii@ sources oiiiiumiiiaibimzi anni independant Uf each @their Whaeby shafts iigh; maybe dircoi in limes mi guiar? mi@ with iii@ other "'rv'iiiwui'. www@ theieaioii of the sources' mi, illumination @ne Wiih 'the oigiiei' 0i' withthe Vehici9 and means inciepeiidmiy aaijst izhe @animi @iemeiiisaliccaiifiimg; fao the 'direcion ci@ c'ieviiitioii ai ih@ vehici@ fram asisif'aiigh; with @mi iii unison with such dvia'zn.

in tessimony Wh'eioi, .il hair@ hereunto sai;

my hand @his 23rd day of Apiii, 1913.

Biais@ iioiismmn

